2-5: The Solution

BAM! Getting electrocuted has GOT to hurt, but since I've never experienced it, it's a bit hard for me to describe. So for those of you who have been electrocuted, bear with me.

(((-5-)))

Janika didn't realize she was lying on the ground until she it registered in her brain that the constant pain had lessened. Someone was on top of her. She looked up at Ulrich and swallowed. Nearby, the phone booth continued to send up fireworks.

"I had to knock you away from it," he said, his cheeks turning a pale rose.

Odd, Yumi, and Jeremy came running up. "What happened?"

"The phone went haywire while she was dialing," Ulrich explained. "I think she got electrocuted."

"Is she okay?" Odd asked.

Her stomach churned and sloshed around, threatening to heave up everything she'd ever eaten in her life. Janika moaned and curled up, trying not to move too much. "Ooooohhh...I'm gonna be sick..."

"I'll go check with Aelita to see about any activated Towers," Jeremy volunteered. "I'm afraid that's what this may mean. Someone had better take her to the infirmary."

Jeremy took Yumi with him and the two other boys managed to carry Janika to Nurse Dorothy. Her hair kept frizzing up and her braid looked singed. Once they got her there, Ulrich left to catch up with the others at the factory. Apparently their concerns were real.

"She won't be ready to leave anytime soon, Odd. You might as well get to class. The bell will ring in less than ten minutes." The nurse took out a cold compress.

"No, I'll stay."

She smiled down at him. "You're such a good friend. Here, put this on her forehead. I need to go get some bandages. Her hand looks badly burned."

Nurse Dorothy went into the adjoining room and Janika groaned. She clenched her teeth and sat up.

"What are you doing? Nurse Dorothy said to stay here."

"I can't," she gasped. "The Ratts are my fault. I have to fix my mistake." Her eyes snapped wide open and she seemed to experience a revelation. "Not a virus! I can delete them through the nullification of data processors by tapping into their internal electronic brains with contrary compatibilities. It's so simple!"

Odd stared at her. "Janika, you sound exactly like Jeremy."

"I already have all the information I need in my computer. It was there all along! I have the original Ratt design. All I need to do is run a status-reversal check on it and I have practically everything done. Come on, Odd!"

Nurse Dorothy came back in a moment later and found the room empty.

They stopped by Janika's room for her laptop and then headed toward the factory using the long route due to her condition. The whole time she continued to prattle on about details involving the program to destroy the Ratts. They didn't get very far before X.A.N.A.'s madness inflicted upon the public grew clear.

Cars had crashed while people ran pell-mell all over the street, trying to dodge the twisting telephone lines that seemed to have taken on a life of their own. They had exploded from the ground and whipped from side to side like beheaded snakes in their death throes, sparks raining down upon the crazed people.

"We have to go through that?!" Odd yelled over the noise of honking cars and wailing voices.

Janika nodded. "I can't climb up or down any ladders or ride my skateboard, so the sewer is definitely out. It's our only choice!"

With a grimace, he looped her arm around his shoulders and ran into the jostling mob. They were shoved repeatedly so that the teenage girl felt herself getting sick again, but they made it through with only a few bruises to show for it.

Odd was just breathing a sigh of relief when he saw a tangled mess of telephone lines thrashing and jerking between them and the factory. The wires seemed to sense someone watching them and, with a twitch, all of them lunged toward the two kids!

(V)

"Aelita?" Yumi called. Ulrich scanned the Desert's horizon for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Jeremy's voice came over. "She's coming straight at you two from the southwest."

"We see her now."

Indeed, Aelita was running full speed and two Krabs were right on her tail.

"Let's go!" Ulrich shouted as he drew his blade.